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This pattern contains directions for a crocheted swan in sparkling white to be used as a centerpiece. Use either heavy Jiffy Cotton or three strands of Mercerized Crochet and Knitting Cotton. Starch for stiffness.

MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS AND SIZE

Some cotton batting, a 32-inch piece of hat wire, 2 small, round black buttons and a small piece of red felt are needed.

CAUTION: The heavy Jiffy Cotton is a thread 3 times heavier than the Mercerized Crochet and Knitting Cot­ton (string). If Mercerized Crochet and Knitting Cotton is being used, always work with 3 strands held together. If Jiffy Cotton is being used, work with a single strand.

BODY

CENTER SECTION – 1ST ROW: Ch 6, join with a sl st into a ring, ch 3, 1 dc into ring, * ch 2, 2 dc into ring; repeat from * 4 more times.

2ND ROW: Ch 1, turn, a sl st in each of first 2 dc on last row, a sl st in next (ch 2) loop, ch 3, (1 dc, ch 2 and 2 dc) in same (ch 2) loop as last sl st (this forms first shell), * skip 2 dc, work a shell of (2 dc, ch 2 and 2 dc) in next (ch 2) loop; repeat from * across (there are 5 shells in row).

3RD ROW: Ch 1, turn, work a shell in first shell as follows: a sl st in each of first 2 dc, a sl st in (ch 2) loop, ch 3, (1 dc, ch 2 and 2 dc) in same ch loop as last sl st, ch 5, always working shells in ch loop of shells below work a shell of (2 dc, ch 2 and 2 dc) in next shell; (ch 2 and a shell) in each of next 2 shells, ch 5, a shell in end shell.

4TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell (as for last row), * ch 3, 1 dc in center st of next (ch 5) loop, (ch 3 and a shell) in each of next 3 shells, ch 3, 1 dc in center st of ch loop, ch 3, a shell in end shell.

5TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 4, skip next ch loop, 2 dc in next dc, (ch 4 and a shell) in each of 3 shells, ch 4, skip (ch 3) loop, 2 dc in next dc, ch 4, a shell in end shell.

6TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 5, skip ch loop, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, (ch 5 and a shell) in each of 3 shells, ch 5, skip ch loop, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, ch 5, a shell in end shell.

7TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 5, skip ch loop, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, (ch 5 and a shell) in each of next 3 shells, ch 5, skip next ch loop, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 5, a shell in end shell.

8TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 5, skip ch loop, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in all but last dc of same group, 2 dc in last dc, (ch 5 and a shell) in each of 3 shells, ch 5, skip ch loop, 2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in all but last dc of group, 2 dc in next dc, ch 5, a shell in end shell.

Repeat last row 3 more times.

12TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 5, 1 dc in each of 13 dc of dc group, (ch 5 and a shell) in each of 3 shells, ch 5, 1 dc in each of 13 dc of next dc group, ch 5, a shell in end shell. Repeat last row 3 more times.

16TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 5, skip ch loop, work a 2 joined dc over first 2 sts of dc group as follows: work (thread over hook, draw up a loop in next st, thread over and through 2 loops) twice, thread over and through all 3 loops on hook, 1 dc in all but end 2 sts of same group, a 2 joined dc over last 2 sts, (ch 5 and a shell) in each of 3 shells, ch 5, a 2 joined dc over first 2 sts of next group, 1 dc in all but end 2 sts of same group, a 2 joined dc over last 2 sts, ch 5, a shell in end shell.

Repeat last row 4 more times.

21ST ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 5, skip ch loop, work a 3 joined dc over next 3 sts as follows: (thread over hook, draw up a loop in next st, thread over and through 2 loops) 3 times, thread over and through all 4 loops on hook, (ch 5 and a shell) in each of 3 shells, ch 5, a 3 joined dc over 3 sts of next group, ch 5, a shell in end shell.

22ND ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 5, 1 sc in next joined st, (ch 5 and a shell) in 3 shells, ch 5, 1 sc in joined st, ch 5, a shell in end shell.

23RD ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, skip 2 ch loops, a shell in next shell, (ch 4 and a shell) in 2 shells, skip 2 ch loops, a shell in end shell.

24TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, slip stitch over to ch loop of first shell, a shell in next shell, (ch 3 and a shell) in 2 shells, a sl st in end shell.

25TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, (ch 2 and a shell) in 2 shells.

26TH ROW: Same as last row but ch 1 between shells.

27TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, a shell in each of next 2 shells.

28TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, 1 sc in center shell, a shell in end shell.

29TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, slip-stitch over to ch loop of first shell, a sl st in next shell; break off.

RIGHT HAND SIDE – 1ST ROW: Ch 4, 1 dc in 4th st from hook, * ch 2, 2 dc in same st as last dc; repeat from * once.

2ND ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first (ch 2) loop, ch 5, a shell in next (ch 2) loop.

3RD ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 3, 4 dc in center st of next ch loop, ch 3, a shell in end shell.

4TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, skip next (ch 3) loop, work (ch 3 and 1 sc) in each of next 4 dc, ch 3, a shell in end shell.

5TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 2, 2 more dc in same shell as last dc, skip a ch loop, (ch 3 and 1 sc) in each of 3 ch loops, ch 3, skip next ch loop, a shell in end shell.

6TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, skip a ch loop, (ch 3 and 1 sc) in each of 2 ch loops, ch 3, skip next ch loop, a shell in next (ch 2) loop, ch 5, a shell in next (ch 2) loop.

7TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 3, 4 dc in center st of (ch 5) loop, ch 3, a shell in next shell, ch 3, skip a ch loop, 1 sc in next ch loop, ch 3, a shell in end shell.

8TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 3, 1 sc in next sc, ch 3, a shell in next shell, skip ch loop, (ch 3 and 1 sc) in each of next 4 dc, ch 3, a shell in next shell.

9TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 2, 2 more dc in same shell as last dc, skip next ch loop, (ch 3 and 1 sc) in each of next 3 ch loops, ch 3, a shell in next shell, ch 2, 2 more dc in same shell as last dc, skip 2 ch loops, a shell in end shell.

10TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a sl st in each of first 2 dc, 1 sc in next (ch 2) loop, skip a dc, a shell in next dc, skip 2 dc, 1 sc in next (ch 2) loop, a sl st in each of next 2 dc, a sl st in next (ch 2) loop, ch 3, (1 dc, ch 2 and 2 dc) in same ch loop as last sl st, skip a ch loop, (ch 3 and 1 sc) in each of 2 ch loops, ch 3, skip next ch loop, a shell in next (ch 2) loop, ch 5, a shell in next (ch 2) loop.

Repeat last 4 rows (from 7th row to end of 10th row) twice more; re­peat 7th and 8th rows once more.

21ST ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, skip next ch loop, (ch 3 and 1 sc) in 3 ch loops; complete as for 9th row.

22ND ROW: Same as 10th row but end with ch 3, a shell in end shell.

23RD ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, ch 3, 1 sc in center ch loop, ch 3, a shell in next shell.

24TH ROW: Same as last row but work sc in center sc (instead of in ch loop).

25TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a shell in first shell, skip 2 ch loops, a shell in end shell.

26TH ROW: Ch 1, turn, a sl st in each of first 2 dc, 1 sc in next ch loop, skip a dc, a shell in next dc, 1 sc in next shell; break off.

LEFT HAND SIDE: Follow directions for Right Hand Side.

JOINING OF SECTIONS: Skip first 5 rows on center section; arrange straight edge of right hand section along remaining rows of center sec­tion; using a darning needle and sewing cotton, tack end st of 1st row of side section to end of 6th row on center section; continue to overcast sections together along end of rows allowing last 2 rows of side section to extend free. Overcast left hand section to opposite side of center section in same way. Overcast last 2 rows of right hand section to corresponding rows on left section; overcast opposite end sts of last 4 rows of side sections together (this forms tail). Overcast opposite end sts of first 4 rows of side sections to end sts of 4 rows on center sec­tion (this will shape body at front).

NECK AND HEAD

NECK – 1ST ROUND: Ch 14, join with a sl st into a ring, ch 1, 1 sc in same st as sl st, 1 sc in each of remaining sts of chain.

2ND ROUND: 1 sc in each sc of last round.

Repeat last round for about 10 inches; (do not break off).

HEAD – 1ST ROUND: * 1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around (there are 21 sc in round).

2ND ROUND: Same as 2nd round of Neck.

3RD ROUND: * 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around (there are 28 sc in round).

Repeat 2nd round 8 times.

12TH ROUND: * 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, draw up a loop in each of next 2 sc, thread over and through all 3 loops on hook (this forms a 2 joined sc); repeat from * around (there are 21 sts in round).

13TH ROUND: 1 sc in each st of last round.

14TH ROUND: * 1 sc in next sc, a 2 joined sc over next 2 sc; repeat from * around.

15TH ROUND: * A 2 joined sc over 2 sts; repeat from * around.

16TH ROUND: 1 sc in next st, * a 2 joined sc over 2 sts; repeat from* around; break off.

Fold a 32-inch piece of hat wire in half, slip folded wire inside cro­cheted neck and head; stuff with cotton batting and adjust to correct shape (see Illustration); fold out ends of wire over crochet edge.

BEAK: Using pattern piece as a guide, cut two pieces of red felt for beak; using a darning needle and matching cotton, overcast pieces of felt together allowing short straight edge to remain open. Place open end of beak over last round of head and sew securely in place.

EYES: Sew 2 small, round black buttons at each side of head 1¼ inches from beak and 2 inches apart, pushing in side of head as shown on Detail below.

TO JOIN TO BODY: With a darning needle and sewing cotton, sew foundation ring of neck to center of 3rd row of center section of body; tack neck securely along center of first 3 rows of center section. Sew edges of following 4 rows of each side section of body along side edges of next 3 inches of neck.

STARCHING AND BLOCKING

Use either a sugar solution (of 2 cups of sugar boiled in a cup of water) or white glue (which may be obtained at most hardware stores; melt it and make it of the consistency of starch) or use a hot solution of starch (following directions for starch solution on package).

TO STARCH: Wet crochet first, then dip in the solution. Stretch cro­chet into correct shape on a flat surface; stuff with rags or wax paper; place a stick under head to hold it up in place. As crochet gets dry, con­tinue to adjust into correct shape; allow to dry completely (it will take from 24 to 48 hours).